Doctors have alleged that Israeli soldiers engaged in the desecration of bodies and shooting civilians at a hospital

During a raid at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Israeli soldiers allegedly desecrated the remains of deceased patients using bulldozers, allowed a military dog to attack a man in a wheelchair, and shot several doctors, even after verifying they had no connections to terror activities. These allegations stem from an eight-day operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at the hospital, which the IDF claims was being utilized as a command and control center by Hamas.

CNN interviewed two senior medical staff, another doctor, and a patient from the hospital, who provided consistent accounts of the events. CNN also examined video evidence supporting some of these claims.

The accounts suggest a disturbing approach by the IDF during the operation, where doctors were interrogated about potential Hamas ties and medical staff struggled to care for patients in the besieged hospital.

The IDF maintains that Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including hospitals, for terrorist activities, necessitating their targeting to dismantle Hamas’ presence in Gaza. However, these actions are controversial, as humanitarian organizations argue they hinder Gaza’s medical facilities from delivering essential services.

Among the gravest accusations against the IDF’s actions at Kamal Adwan Hospital is the claim that Israeli soldiers unearthed and desecrated bodies in makeshift graves in the hospital’s courtyard while withdrawing. Hossam Abu Safiya, the head of pediatric services, described witnessing soldiers using bulldozers to unearth, drag, and crush bodies. His account, along with evidence he shared showing human remains scattered around the hospital grounds, was corroborated by the head of nursing, Eid Sabbah, and nurse Asmaa Tanteesh.

Satellite imagery from December 15, just before the IDF’s withdrawal, shows disturbed ground outside the hospital.

While the IDF did not directly respond to these specific allegations, it confirmed conducting an operation at the hospital, claiming the apprehension of 80 terrorists involved in the October 7th massacre.

The IDF had also released a video of the hospital director’s interrogation, claiming he admitted the hospital’s use for military purposes, though it was unclear if this admission was made under duress.

Abu Safiya and Sabbah refuted these claims, insisting that the hospital solely provided medical services and that those arrested were civilians and medical workers.